The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has called for a unified tax system that would work for the country.
In an address at the opening of a Two-Day Public Hearing on the proposed Tax Reform Bills, 2024-2005, Akpabio said Nigeria cannot afford to be fragmented in its approach to revenue generation.
He urged collaboration between the “Federal, State, and Local Governments, alongside the private sector and civil society, to create a tax system that truly works for all.”
President Bola Tinubu in October 2024, submitted Four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.
In a letter read during their respective plenary sessions by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday, the President explained that the bills were crafted to align with his administration’s goals.
The proposed bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims to establish a comprehensive fiscal framework for tax regulation.
The Tax Administration Bill seeks to provide a clear and concise legal structure for managing taxes in Nigeria to reduce disputes and enhance efficiency.
Attempts by the National Assembly to pass the Bill through the entire legislative processes were however met with stiff opposition from some quarters, especially from interest groups in the north who alleged that the proposed legislation was “anti-north.”
Addressing stakeholders at the National Assembly on Monday, the Senate President described the Tax Reform Bills as a transformative step forward in the collective journey toward economic renewal and prosperity for all Nigerians.
He emphasised the need to “reform, modernize, and optimize our tax system. This is not just a task; it is a profound responsibility we must embrace with courage, wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to the Nigerian people.
As we look to the future, we must remember that a nation that fails to adapt its revenue system to the realities of our time risks stagnation and decline.”
He also stressed the need to abandon what he described as “outdated tax practices and bureaucratic hurdles, spreading our wings toward a tax administration that is robust, transparent, and conducive to business.”
At the public hearing, the Senate President said the gathering represents more than a legislative requirement.
According to him, “it is a call to collective action, a platform for dialogue where lawmakers, tax administrators, businesses, and citizens come together to craft a fair, transparent, and effective tax regime that reflects the interests of all Nigerians.”
The bills (SB 583, SB 584, SB 585, and SB 586), he said, will harmonize revenue administration across all tiers of government, reduce the cost of tax collection and enhance compliance, foster transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tax administration.
According to him, it will also introduce digital innovations to simplify tax payments and close loopholes, while ensuring fairness, protecting vulnerable taxpayers, and creating an environment ripe for economic growth.
“The challenge before us transcends the simple act of passing new laws; it is about constructing a tax system that inspires confidence, promotes development, and fuels national growth.
“We cannot afford to be fragmented in our approach to revenue generation. Instead, we must come together—Federal, State, and Local Governments, alongside the private sector and civil society—to create a tax system that truly works for all.
“I assure you that the 10th National Assembly is fully committed to enacting legislative reforms that will strengthen our economic foundation, empower our businesses, and enhance accountability within our government.
“The success of this Public Hearing hinges on your active engagement, and I encourage all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to this dialogue.
Let us seize this moment, not just for ourselves, but for future generations, to lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous Nigeria,” he stressed.
